Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Tourism and Culture Atif Khan said while talking with Azerbaijan’s ambassador Ali Alizada that the government had allocated one billion rupees for the preservation of six thousand tourist sites in the province.

Khan added, “Azerbaijan is the emerging tourist side and we shall probably learn from its experience in the tourism sector — It is pertinent to share, Azerbaijan is said to be the cheapest country to inhale Europeans way of life. In 2017, a total number of 17,558 Pakistani tourists visited Azerbaijan compared to 3998 in 2016. Reported earlier by Florian Sengstschmid, the Executive Director of the Azerbaijan Tourism Board.

In the meantime, the Ambassador of Azerbaijan said the archeological sites of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were very attractive for the travel industry.

Both the leaders agreed to launch Youth Exchange programs between Azerbaijan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The Ambassador of Azerbaijan also visited Sethi House, Peshawar Museum, Heritage Trail, Islamia College, Qilla Bala Hisar and demonstrated keen interest in local culture and heritage sites.

It is noteworthy to share, both the government of Pakistan and Azerbaijan are planning to open direct flights in Summer 2020.

In recent years, Kyber Pakhtunkhwa’s government with the nodding from the federal government has taken auspicious steps in preserving historical tourist sites; starting from renovating the old Peshawar city from Gor Gathri to Ghanta Ghar followed by the reopening of Buddhist rituals at Bhamala Monastery and Stupa Taxila.

Courtesy: Daily Times

https://dailytimes.com.pk/509116/six-thousands-tourist-sites-in-only-khyber-pakhtunkhwa-atif-khan/